Get Your Fire Back With the Psalms!نموونە

David spent many long seasons in the wilderness.

During one of those seasons, David wrote something remarkable in Psalm 139.

"Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?

If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

if I make my bed in the depths, you are there."

Later in Psalm 139, David writes, "When I wake up, I am still with you."

David sensed that he was never out of God's presence. Psalm 139 has become one of the most famous psalms because David wrote it in response to his experience with God. That's what worship is. Worship is our response to encountering God. If you're always with God, then you have the opportunity to worship God always.

Yesterday, I shared how my experiences outside my cultural context have informed how I view worship. Another thing I've learned is that worship is far more about what we bring with us than what we receive when we arrive.

There will be some days when worship feels like a chore, and you will struggle to sing words because you don't believe them. In those moments, getting caught up in preferences or being a consumer is easy. But bringing a sense of wonder, choosing defiant joy, or focusing on your gratitude to Jesus will ignite your worship experience!

The Apostle Paul sustained his fire and passion from his conversion through his execution. Part of me wonders if Paul's fire remained strong because he never forgot where he came from and what God had done for him.

In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul makes an honest confession. "But by the grace of God, I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect."

In Philippians 3, he lists his achievements and accomplishments, which once gave him a sense of significance and superiority over others. But then, he pivots and makes a shocking statement. "But whatever were gains to me, I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord."

That's fire! There is a sense of passion and wonder that burns so bright that it draws other people who long for the same thing. And that kind of fire is available for you today.

Like David in Psalm 51, you can pray to God and ask Him to "Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me." Like the Ephesians, you can go back to what you once did. Like David, you can marvel at the stars and consider how much God values you.

ACTION STEP: So, what will you do? Before you complete this plan, please finish this sentence. "To get my fire back and reclaim my wonder, today I will ______________________."

We cannot ignite that fire, and we cannot force wonder. But, we can cultivate a heart that sustains wonder. We can set up the wood that can be ignited by God's fire.

I'm praying for you today. You don't have to stay where you are. God can light a fire again inside you. Don't delay when you get an idea to get started today. Take action! Your responsibility is obedience. God's responsibility is the outcome!

I've loved sharing this plan with you. If you'd like more encouragement from me, click here to get a complimentary copy of my Hope Manifesto. The manifesto tells the story of how I rediscovered hope after a long battle with anger, bitterness, cynicism, and disillusionment.